August 15, 2017 The Pâte de Verre of G. Argy-Rousseau by Mike Fredericks, Department Head – One of the more recognizable and influential pâte de verre artists of the Art Nouveau period is G. Argy-Rousseau. Born in France in 1885 to a family of simple farmers, Joseph-Gabriel Rousseau would evolve into an inquisitive engineer, inventor and artist, applying for numerous patents and earning his rightful place among the most respected creative minds of the time… [Read More]

February 27, 2017 “Fancy Goods” by Mike Fredericks, Department Head
In the early 1900s, Tiffany Studios designed and produced an incredible array of candlesticks, candelabra and luxury household items they termed “Fancy Goods” for the well-heeled consumer, that today give both the beginning collector and advanced connoisseur opportunity to add to their collections with endless variety at either end of the value spectrum. … [Read More]

July 26, 2016 Success in Today’s Market – by Mike Fredericks, Department Head – Several times an auction cycle I am asked if and/or when the market will “bounce back.” First, it is no easier to predict the collectibles market than it would be to time the market with the Stock Exchange. From auction to auction, one or more areas may be stronger than others, but the market has been fairly stable the past two to three years. Secondly, today’s market is the new reality. It matters less what the item was worth in 1994 or 2004, but only matters what the piece is worth today. Likewise, none of us knows what the value may be in 2024… [Read More]

May 21, 2016 Mt. Washington Royal Flemish Art Glass – by Mike Fredericks, Department Head – In the late 1880s through the early 1900s, the Mt. Washington Glass Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts was manufacturing more than 10 styles of decorated art glass that were being shipped to buyers all over the world. Of those decors designed at Mt. Washington, Royal Flemish continues to be one of the genres that is most sought after… [Read More]

May 2, 2016 Sterling Silver at Julia’s Sterling silver has long been a mainstay of our auction consignments at James D. Julia, Inc. and our June 2016 sale will be no exception. The sale features a true rarity of Tiffany & Co. early Sterling silver with a stunning set of mixed metal candelabra. Mixed metal pieces are highly sought after examples of Tiffany & Company’s finest work, developed by Edward C. Moore, designer of some of Tiffany’s most desirable patterns. The Japanese style of mixed metal work was featured in the Tiffany exhibit… [Read More]

March 30, 2016 Pairpoint Manufacturing Company: America’s Oldest Glass Company – by Dudley Browne – The Pairpoint Manufacturing Company was established in 1880 in the town of New Bedford, MA. An interesting fact is the initial product the company manufactured was metal hardware for caskets. The Pairpoint facility was located near the Mount Washington Glassworks factory which was well known for the production of innovative and high quality glassware. Through the years the two companies discussed the possibility of joint projects that might benefit them both. Finally, in 1894, the companies merged and began the production of lamps as well as lamp parts and accessories. Their innovative lamp designs became very popular and were in great demand… [Read More]

March 10, 2016 Art Deco Never Goes Out of Style by Cristina Romig – The upcoming Rare Lamps, Glass & Fine Jewelry auction brings with it spectacular lots of Art Deco and Art Deco inspired jewelry. The 1920s and 1930s is one of my favorite time periods, not only in the history of jewelry, but in World history as well. With World War I over, women who filled men’s shoes while they were away at war, no longer wanted to return to their traditional roles and styles of the pre-war era. Along with a change in fashion came a change in jewelry. The pieces became more geometric and linear in design with dazzling use of primary colors and clean white lines… [Read More]

February 2, 2016 The Duffner & Kimberly Company by Dr. Martin M. May, Author of Great Art Glass Lamps – The Duffner & Kimberly Company was incorporated in 1906 to directly compete with Tiffany Studios. Their purpose was to produce a very high-end product in mosaic art glass motifs. This retail product line including stained-glass window commissions, memorial plaques, and a line of leaded mosaic lamps.
Duffner & Kimberly created original designs for their lamps, and their workmanship and choice of materials were of the highest quality… [Read More]

Decemeber 29, 2015 Private Collections Lead the Way… By Mike Fredericks, Deptartment Head – Our Rare Lamps, Glass and Fine Jewelry Division finished 2015 with one of our strongest sales to come to market in many years, totaling over $2.4 Million. With this stellar performance, we completed the third consecutive year of exceeding $4 Million in annual gross sales for the division. Much of this success came from private collections of fresh-to-the-market, rare collectibles being entrusted to us and our proven strategy of conservative and realistic estimates that realize the highest returns for our consignors… [Read More]

October 29, 2015 Galle Marquetry from Dr. Mark Jackson Collection… By Mike Fredericks, Dept. Head & Dudley Browne, Consultant – When the stars align and high-quality collectibles can be brought to market at conservative estimates, good things happen. James D. Julia’s November 18, 2015 sale will be no exception. Our Lamp, Glass and Fine Jewelry Auction is an amazing grouping of high-quality offerings, many of which come to us as private collections sold en mass, some being sold COMPLETELY UNRESERVED. Of the more than 600 lots being offered, one of the highlighted groups will be the Dr. Mark Jackson Collection that contains fine Loetz art glass, as well as some of the finest quality Galle marquetry cameo glass to come to market, which we would like to share with you, along with comments from our cataloger… [Read More]

September 4, 2015 The New York State of Mind By Mike Fredericks, Department Head- James D Julia Inc. Every once in a while, when talking with a potential consignor with a great piece, I hear those dreaded words “…this piece should probably be sold in New York.” This is the ‘Old-School’ notion that a rare or valuable piece will automatically bring more money if sold at one of the New York auction houses. While name recognition carries a certain mystique, the fact is that wherever the piece sells, the seller wants the greatest financial return from the auction process, and New York may not be the place to get that. What do I mean? Let’s take a $50,000 item and look at the potential from both the Buyer and Seller sides. [Read More]

June 2, 2015 Expanding into Antique and Estate Jewelry
The Lamp and Glass Department at James D. Julia’s is very excited to be expanding their offerings of fine antique and estate jewelry. Jewelry has always been a nice fit along side the exceptional art glass and lighting Julia’s is noted for. When Department Head Mike Fredericks took over the Lamp and Glass Department from the retiring Dudley Browne, he was determined to expand the quality and variety of jewelry. The upcoming June Lamp and Glass Auction is a testament to his success. [Read More]

March 25, 2015 Excerpts from Emile Galle – Dreams Into Glass by William Warmus, Corning Museum of Glass – “Galle.” Among glass collectors, the very name evokes images of pastel vases decorated with flowers and leaves amidst swirling mists. Their forms are strong and simple; their decoration is usually acid-etched, and sometimes it is sharpened with an engraver’s wheel. Uniform, predictable, they are recognized instantly, even before the signature is found. Such are the commercial works of Emile Galle’s factory, works that perhaps were never even touched or seen by Galle himself. In fact, they continued to be made for nearly three decades after his death. [Read More]

February 11, 2015 Demystifying Paperweights by Debbie Tarsitano of Debbie Tarsitano Studios – Antique paperweights made in the 19th century captured floral designs, reptiles and millefiori canes in very traditional Victorian styles encased in a solid sphere of clear crystal. [Read More]

November 3, 2014 Tiffany Desk Sets By William R. Holland, Author of Tiffany Desk Sets – Why would anyone at auction pay $207,000 for a six piece desk set consisting of an inkwell, two blotter ends, a paper rack, a rocker blotter, a pen tray and a small calendar? Answer: Because the maker was Tiffany Studios. Louis Comfort Tiffany’s famous company consisted of a number of interrelated shops. It is said that the Lamp Shop resulted from a need to use the glass remnants that were discarded from the Window Department. In this new age of electricity, lamps, with either leaded shades or blown glass Favrile shades from the Tiffany Glass Shop were all the rage. [Read More]

August 8, 2014 The Beauty of Daum Nancy Glass by Philip Chasen
Daum Nancy is a survivor, still making beautiful art glass after 125 years. Emile Gallé was first, showing his glass creations at the 1889 Paris Universal Exhibition. That same year the Daum Brothers decided to emulate Gallé, after his success at the show. By 1893, Daum was also successfully exhibiting at international expositions. They have been able to survive to the present day by adjusting to changing tastes in art, including Art Nouveau and Art Deco. The Gallé company was unable to adjust to the transition to Art Deco, finally succumbing during the Great Depression in the 1930s. [Read More]

March 17, 2014 – Excerpt from A New Age for Wedgwood by Nicole Jordan, Ars Ceramica No. 25 2009 – Daisy Makeig-Jones once said of her creative process, “Mix all the colours in Decoration and Design and no one can say they are wrong.” Her unorthodox design philosophy becomes evident when one views Daisy’s multicolored wares, whose style depended heavily upon her childhood infatuation with mythology and fairy lore. It was also in close accordance with contemporary trends in European ceramics, with their intense, glowing colors, fluid and organic decoration, and heavy gilding. [Read More]

March 17, 2014 – Loetz Art Glass by Deb Petersen Fitzsimmons
he main Loetz glass factory was originally located in Klostermüle, Austria in 1851 which is now part of the Czech Republic. While Loetz produced Victorian, Historicism and Art Deco art glass, the glory years for Loetz art glass production was during the Art Nouveau period. The Loetz factory officially ceased operation in 1939 so the newest piece of Loetz art glass would be over 75 years old! Several events helped to put the Loetz glassworks on the map. [Read More]

January 25, 2014 – History of Handel
Handel lamps have long been a desirable investment in the collecting community. The company was founded in 1885 in Meriden, CT by the partnership of Philip J. Handel and Adolph Eydam. The original partnership dissolved in 1892 when Eydam left to join competitor C.F. Monroe. By 1903, Handel was relocated in a larger manufacturing facility and was managed by a new partnership between Handel, Antone Teich and Albert Parlow. With the success of Edison’s incandescent light-bulb in 1879, the company enjoyed continuous growth and became best known for their “Reck Decorated” painted shades, meaning hand-painted. Fine artists of the community were recruited into the company from the local immigrant population, with names such as Bedgie, Runge, Parlow, Broggi and Palme found on prime examples of their best work. [Read More]

November 3, 2013 – Moser Glass by Gary Baldwin
Founded by Ludwig Moser in 1857, the Moser firm has evolved from the drab surroundings of a single engraving studio to become the 21st Century’s preeminent producer of luxury glassware in Central Europe. Through an international network of fine shops, Moser sold luxury glassware to socially prominent and wealthy patrons and included among its customers crowned heads in Europe and the Middle East. Even though Ludwig Moser was recognized by his contemporaries as a painter and engraver of significant stature, his greatest achievement was as a glass entrepreneur. The Moser firm’s unparalleled success was the direct result of Ludwig’s personal dedication to the production of glassware of uncompromising quality. [Read More]

September 1, 2013 – Tiffany at Auction: Still a Strong Performer
With the recent update of the F. Scott Fitzgerald classic, “The Great Gatsby,” you can’t watch television, open a newspaper or check out a popular website and not see Gatsby mentioned somewhere. The story embodied a time and place in America where opulence, quality, and fashion ruled the day. Tiffany was, and still is, a name synonymous with affluence and success. The beauty of Tiffany lamp designs, with their intricate patterns, brilliant colors and textures combined with quality construction made the brand a hallmark of the upper echelon of society. [Read More]